Report: Rutgers spent record high on football staff

Nobody can argue that Rutgers isn’t spending money in an attempt to improve its football program, at least according to a report from NJ.com.

Keith Sargent recently reported that Rutgers spent a record total in 2018, spending $7.4 million on its football staff, which consists of 56 members. That total is a sizable increase for the $6.35 million the school spent in 2017, and $6.28 million in 2016.

Head coach Chris Ash earned $2.227 million for the 2018 season. His salary ranks 13th among B1G coaches for the year. Offensive coordinator John McNulty earned $593,000 and defensive coordinator Jay Niemann — who has since been dismissed — ranked in $485,500.

In the story, Sargent points out that Rutgers’ total spent on its football coaching staff is likely to be at the very bottom of the B1G. In fact, Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer ($7.6 million) and Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh ($7.5 million) both earned more than the Scarlet Knights’ entire staff.

The $7.4 million does not include athletic trainers, academic support members, media relations officials, or anyone else who may primarily work with the program but are not technically considered football “staff.”

Rutgers finished the 2018 season with a 1-11 record and was winless in B1G play.

Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB